Article Title

Migration and Mortality of Banded Mourning Doves

Authors

Lawrence L. Thomforde, Kennedy High School, Bloomington, Minnesota

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1972

Keywords

Mourning dove; Birds--Migration; Birds--Mortality; Bird banding

Abstract

Banding data gathered over a three-year period at Savage, Minnesota, were analyzed to determine migration patterns and mortality rates of 2,218 mourning doves. The age ratio among trapped doves was 1.19 immatures per 1 adult and the sex ratio 3.84 males per 1 female. The weighted mean annual mortality rate for immature doves was 58.5 percent. For adult doves, the weighted annual mortality was 28.2 percent. The total weighted recovery rate was 1.24 immatures to 1 adult. The data show that immatures are 75 percent more vulnerable than adults to being shot; although no difference was found in direct recovery rates between immature and adult birds. Correction for differential vulnerability of sexes on basis of banding data showed that females were 143 percent more likely to be shot. The rate of migrational homing was not calculated, but data suggest that a high proportion of the surviving individuals homed to their natal area.

Distribution of recoveries shows south, southeasternly and southwesternly migration patterns. The Central Management Unit accounted for 69 percent of the total recoveries. Most of the outstate recoveries were in Texas, with Florida recoveries second.

First Page

72

Last Page

76

Recommended Citation

Thomforde, L. L. (1972). Migration and Mortality of Banded Mourning Doves. Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol. 38 No.2, 72-76.
Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.morris.umn.edu/jmas/vol38/iss2/4

Primo Type

Article